The Scarlet Letter
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3.7 • 118 Ratings
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Publisher Description
An Apple Books Classic edition.
Hester Prynne lives in infamy. After committing adultery and bearing a child with a man whose name she refuses to divulge, the heroine of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s novel is forced to wear a scarlet A to mark her shame for all to see.
Hawthorne’s American classic reflects the Puritan mindset of Boston in the 1600s, where public humiliation was acceptable punishment for a woman who bucked the norms. Never mind that Hester’s husband was widely believed to have died at sea and that Hester and her daughter are living a quiet life of good deeds in their little cottage outside town. Someone wants revenge-and will stop at nothing to get it.
The Scarlet Letter incorporates supernatural elements with historical fiction. It’s a dark tale of sin and redemption with an unforgettable heroine whose story continues to fascinate readers and inspire film adaptations.
Customer Reviews
The AudioBook is better!
I felt in light of recent events in the US; I thought that reading this book would be significant. After all, it has been on my TBR for a long time, so what better time. Honestly, there are so many more eloquent reviews that talk about the historical significance but for me, the puritan culture of 1642 to 1649 doesn't seem so removed. I was so sad for Hester and Pearl, a child who had no choice in her existence yet was treated with disdain.
The language is old, and I'm so glad I read this with the audiobook as it helped a lot. There are a lot of books that I didn't understand, but it would have been a hazardous book to publish. It is essential to recognise the hypocrisy of religious institutions and for those institutions to accept the blame for the trauma inflicted by them.
Solace and inspiration
Any woman struggling through a tumultuous period should take the time to read this book. The heroine, Hester Prynne, provides solace and inspiration to any and all who are face with a burden to carry.
I simply loved this book.
The Scarlet Letter
A story that is able to find the soul and leave its own impression there.